Been out of the loop...spec me a Core2Duo setup please?

[pendulum666]

Hey guys. I have been on socket 939 for a while and decided its time to upgrade but Im on a budget here and want the best bang per buck. Im after a mobo, cpu and ram, and I want the cheapest way to 3ghz possible. So I am going with a e21XX CPU for cheap, but I am unsure whay I need to consider for memory and mobo requirments.
I know with socket 939, I had to be sure my ram was on a divider...I assume I can set similar ratios with core2duo? Whats the cheapest but still worthy oute I could take for mobo and 2gig of DDR2 ram? It all seems so nice and cheap but I wouldnt know what to get. Considertaion for mobo, is it needs to have coaxial out, be able to do raid with atleast 4 x sata ports, be able to fit modern day long gfx cards in...I have a 3850 ... i.e. not foul the sata connections. Also have an ide port, preferably 2 really as I need them. And a floppy is not necessary but if it has one great.
Oh also needs to be a crossfire board and good stabel board that overclocks well but not too expensive.
LOL too much to ask?
Is it ok to buy the cheap £30 2 x 1gb DDR2 ram I see about? Have no idea what mobo as there seem to be so many different new Intel chipsets I am confused what goes with what...are they basically differetn FSB speeds and DDR2/DDR3 etc?

Thanks so much for any help.

[BUFF]

you are going to have to compromise on your spec somewhere so prioritise your list of features.

[pendulum666]

It all stands really. CPU will be e21XX for sure. Motherboard has to have all those features except floppy and IDE...if it does not have IDE then it needs to have 8 x SATA ports. Needs to have passive chipset as well and fit modern gfx cards in. I don't think thats too much to ask. Needs to overclock well and be a stable board all for as cheap as possible. Basically what everyone looks for in a modern day mobo?
Ram will be 2 x 1gb. Im just looking for the ability to run an e21XX as quick as I can for the money really.

Cheers

[BUFF]

modern mobos for Intel tend to have only 1 IDE port supporting 2 devices.
nVidia 650i SLI mobos have 2 (4 devices) but aren't Crossfire.

Do you really need Crossfire support?
If you want full dual 16x it's going to cost you £120 plus whereas something like a Gigabyte P35-DS3P (x16 + x4) will be ~£80.

[pendulum666]

Actually your right....scrap crossfire as I don't need it or can afford it. It was only really to future proof gfx a little. Nah scrap that then.

[BUFF]

Aforementioned Gigabyte P35-DS3P then.
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

You could drop down slightly to a DS3R if really watching the pennies
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

[pendulum666]

I notice those gigabyte boards don't have firewire? Thats unsual for a modern day board. I think I might go for one of the Asus boards at the same price range such as the Asus P5KC, iP35. So that leaves cheap 2 x 1gig ram suggestions?

also, I take it this board supports windows XP still with drivers?

cheers

[pendulum666]

For the ram I understand I will be running an e21XX cpu which is only 800 FSB as opposed to the latest conroe 1066 FSB CPUs. So does this affect the ram I get? I assume i require pc2 6400 DDR2 ram as it runs at 800mhz? that right? What would be the significance of running only 677mhz ram?

[BUFF]

DS3P has firewire (also the slightly dearer DS4).

Intel CPUs have a quad pumped bus so the reported fsb is 4x the true bus speed i.e. an 800fsb E21xx actually is running 200fsb.
The RAM bus runs at half the DDR rate so in theory then all you need is DDR2 400 PC2 3200 except that the P35 chipset doesn't support anything under DDR2 667/PC 5300.

Without overclocking the RAM DDR2 667 will allow you to run upto a CPU bus speed of 333 (1333). If your RAM overclocks too then you can go higher but given the low price of DDR2 atm you may want to just buy DDR2 800.

[pendulum666]

Agreed. I think some 2x1gb pc6400 800mhz is in order given its like £35 plus I can then get the cheap e2140 and still hit 3ghz with its low multi.

Ok so decision now really, is just what mobo really. Any particular one overclock better out of abit, gigabyte, asus? I'll just pic one that has everything I want

Thanks for your help. I ve been reading through the oc guide and its easy as pie. Im used to socket 939 oc-ing but core2duo is same logic really just slightly different. I understand it all now. Ta

[BUFF]

the abits don't have a coaxial SPDIF but optical so regrettably (as they are my fav.) that rules them out for your needs.
I would probably go with the P35-DS3P.

[pendulum666]

Well cheers for your help. I weighed up all my options and in the end went for e2140 (despite e2180 being on offer elsewhere) as its still so nice and cheap and a good challenge for oc-ing. From where I have ordered apparently there are good steppings there at the moment. We will see. I got the Asus P5KC in the end as it does all i want and more, and then I got some 2x1gb of ram on offer for £35. All in it cost around £160 and I will be able to run a rig as quick as a mate that bought an e6600 setup for £400+ a few months back.

[not_my_ip]

About sound output, I have not seen really decent sound card on MB, usally on test they coming not as good as additional PCI card like Soundblasters. I heard a lot of good words about Audigy 2 ZS - good quality and you can them on ebay for around £20. Despite it is very hard to buy one in shop it is better quality than low end X Fi series.

[BUFF]

I got the Asus P5KC in the end as it does all i want and more,

you said that you wanted RAID on at least 4 ports - the P5KC doesn't have that but only on the 2 ports on the JMicron (1 of which is external).

[pendulum666]

you said that you wanted RAID on at least 4 ports - the P5KC doesn't have that but only on the 2 ports on the JMicron (1 of which is external).

WTH!? Serious? I assumed I could RAID any of the 4 sata ports internally? Man thats annoying. Gonna have to cancel my order now So what ones can I raid internally on 4 ports?

[BUFF]

Gigabyte P35-DS3P
Asus P5K-E